Xylocopa violacea
Encyclopedia
Xylocopa violacea, the violet carpenter bee,
is the common Europe
an species of carpenter bee
, and one of the largest bees in Europe. Like most members of the genus Xylocopa, it makes its nests in dead wood.
It is not particularly aggressive and will attack only if forced to. It is sometimes mistaken for the European hornet
.
is the common Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an species of carpenter bee
Carpenter bee
Carpenter bees are large, hairy bees distributed worldwide. There are some 500 species of carpenter bee in 31 subgenera...
, and one of the largest bees in Europe. Like most members of the genus Xylocopa, it makes its nests in dead wood.
It is not particularly aggressive and will attack only if forced to. It is sometimes mistaken for the European hornet
European hornet
The European hornet Vespa crabro, commonly known simply as the "hornet", is the largest European eusocial wasp. The queen measures 25 to 50 mm long; males and workers are smaller...
.